Get Cellulite-free for Spring!
By Denise Mann, April 11 2016
Every year, another new cellulite treatment comes along, promising it’s not just the latest, but also the greatest way to get rid of dimply, cottage cheese thighs and rears. And a huge price tag is often attached to the hype. “We spend one billion dollars each year on new ways to eradicate cellulite, and often end up disappointed,” notes Valerie Goldburt, MD, PhD , a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Fortunately, Dr. Goldburt adds, there are some very effective and natural ways to combat it without spending a fortune!
Drink up to remove toxins
Plain tap water helps flush toxins that hide in the fat layers beneath the skin and accentuate lumps and bumps. “Hydration plumps the skin and makes it look less lumpy,” Dr. Goldburt explains, “definitely camouflaging cellulite.” The key: Drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces daily! So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should sip 75oz (a little more than nine cups) of water. “And be sure to avoid beverages with caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to be dehydrating,” she adds.
Harness the power of caffeine in a cream
Slimming creams containing 3.5% water-soluble, antioxidant-rich caffeine and zanthenes (such as The Tight Stuff, $43.50, or Cellusculpt Body Shaper & Cellulite Smoothing Cream, $59, both a Sephora.com) are proven to help hide cellulite by plumping skin cells. “Topical caffeine increases blood flow to the surface of the skin, plumping it up for a couple of hours,” says Dr. Goldburt. Or try this effective DIY scrub: Mix ¼ cup of ground coffee with 3 Tbs. of sugar and olive oil to form a smooth paste. Massage into cellulite-prone areas in a circular motion for five minutes, the rinse off in a warm shower. Repeat at least twice weekly.
Increase elasticity with gotu kola
This herbal extract, derived from a close relative of parsley, ups your supply of collagen and elastin, improving elasticity and thickening the skin to minimize the appearance of bumpy cellulite, says Josh Axe, CNS, a certified nutritionist in Nashville, Tennessee. “Take 150 mg. to 250 mg. of gotu kola two to three times daily and you will see a difference in the appearance of cellulite within three days.” Find the supplement in health-food stores and online at VitaCost.com.
Try laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy, which can be done with at-home devices (such as SoftLaser Plus Low Level Laser, $179, JellenProducts.com; and Raymax Professional Low Level Laser, $269, Amazon.com) can improve the cellulite in your thights and buttocks. “As with caffeine creams, these devices work by stimulating blood flow,” Dr. Goldburt says. “In addition, they increase production of collagen, which can also mask the appearance of cellulite.”